LUMS School of Education (SOE) successfully conducted an information session on 3rd February 2018 for its new MPhil Education Leadership and Management programme, along with a free GRE preparatory workshop. The session was open to the public, and attracted a large number of participants, belonging to varying educational and professional backgrounds.

The session began by providing guidelines for approaching the Mathematics section of the GRE, which included topics such as quantitative reasoning. There was active participation throughout the event, as the instructor kept the audience engaged by posing questions that got them acquainted to the GRE format.

The GRE Mathematics session was followed by an information session of the LUMS School of Education MPhil Education Leadership and Management programme. The panel consisted of members of the LUMS administration and faculty: namely, Dr. Mariam Chughtai, Associate Dean, School of Education, Dr. Faisal Bari, Associate Professor, Department of Economics, LUMS, Nuzhat Kamran, Director Marketing and Admissions, School of Education and representatives of the LUMS Admissions department.

The information session provided insight into the features of the MPhil programme, focusing on how the programme will enable graduates to lead the education reform, and make a strategic difference in Pakistan’s educational landscape. Dr. Mariam Chughtai highlighted the structural, cultural, and intellectual challenges Pakistan’s education system is currently facing, and how SOE is aiming towards bringing educational reforms in these areas. She also spoke about SOE’s collaborations with the Punjab government, the KP government, and other external organisations.

The information session was very well-received, and the audience actively engaged with the panel with questions regarding the MPhil programme, particularly the partnerships that SOE has developed since its conception. The participants were curious to know of the job prospects and leadership opportunities that the MPhil programme will provide to its graduates. This was followed by a break during which the attendees rushed to the stage where the panel members were seated, in order to ask questions according to their context. Outside of the auditorium, the event volunteers were present to help the participants sign up for their online MPhil applications at the portals. The lobby was abuzz with people creating their admission accounts, and the team of volunteers facilitated the process throughout, while also redirecting programme queries to members of the SOE team.

The instructor continued with the GRE preparation workshop after the break, and covered the Verbal section of the GRE, which included topics such as verbal reasoning and analytical writing. The event ended with the participants further clarifying their concerns and queries regarding the MPhil Education Leadership and Management programme by approaching the SOE team. Furthermore, several people approached the portals at the end of the event to continue signing up for their admission accounts.